15 Tips For Handling Family Stress Over the Holidays

Ahh the holidays are upon us. The most joyous and stressful time of the year.

The holidays are awesome, and so is family… except when it isn’t. Rather than freaking out and making things worse and more stressful, here are 15 tips for handling family stress over the holidays and remaining at least kinda kind.

1- Make a plan

This isn’t your first rodeo. Strategize your visit: who you will sit next to, how you will respond to sensitive issues and questions, your response if someone asks why you post nasty things about Donald Trump, and you might even want to put together a few go-to topics if you feel things are steering into a direction you don’t like – stuff like that. Obviously you can’t coordinate every little thing, but a little planning can go a long ways.

2- Be positive and don’t assume it’s gonna suck

Summon your inner gingerbread man/woman/person

If you approach every scenario having already decided it’s gonna be awful – it will. Your attitude plays a huge rule, so do your best to go in with one that’s positive. If things start sucking, remember the cliche, “you can’t control what happens, but you can control how you respond.”

3- Don’t take everything personally

The holidays are stressful: planning, prep, traveling, expenses, etc.. On top of that, the holidays are really hard for some due to loss of family members, memories, loneliness. So if someone is in a bad mood and snaps at you, realize it likely isn’t about you.

4- Keep conversations with difficult people to a minimum and on-point

Time is up for this awful conversation

You likely already have an idea of who and what topics will set you off. Keep conversations with those individuals to a minimum, but plan out a few retorts to the questions and topics you’re sure will come up. Also know of a few topics in which you can easily steer the conversation. And remember you can always ask people about themselves – that’s most people’s favorite topic.

5- Pause and think before speaking

Just image how many situations would quickly defuse — or not happen at all — if everyone put a little thought into how they will respond. During that pause between thinking and speaking, your neurons make the leap from the fear center of the brain to a more evolved, pragmatic, and less psycho portion. This also gives you a chance to practice dual-perspective and try to see the situation from that person’s vantage point.

6- Bite tongue and move on

After taking that pause, you might realize that biting your tongue is the safest, most surefire way to deescalate a situation. So bite it hard, and move on by either walking away or changing topic.

7- Resist urge to bring up old shit

Cool it with the sass. image via consequenceofsound.net

Much of the nuttiness that happens over the holidays is rooted in crap from the past. While I’m not suggesting anyone sweet things under the rug, realize the holidays are most certainly not the right time. You’re making it about yourself. No bringing up big points of discussion, or dropping those sly little back-handed “jokes” – everyone sees through them and they start shit.

If someone else brings up old stuff, that’s when you use one of those conversation adjusting tips. Change topic to something else, or tell person you’ll have that hellish conversation with them on another day.

8- Changing someone’s mind isn’t your job

Everyone is molded by different experiences and backgrounds. Just because someone disagrees with you, it doesn’t mean they’re wrong. And even if you think they are, who cares – it’s not your damn job to change their mind. Also remember that there is a big difference between opinion and fact.

9- Take care of anxiety beforehand

If you take something for anxiety – pills, weed, whatever – properly dose yourself before hand, or hit the gym to release a little stress and pre-family jitters. Also, this isn’t the time to be on day 3 of your juice cleanse or of not smoking – you’ll be a monster. Those resolutions you aren’t gonna keep should be kept until Jan 1, anyways.

10- Don’t drink too much

Or drink too much – if that works better. But be sure to check yo self before you reck yo self… and everyone’s Christmas. Incorporate a few non-alcoholic drinks in between rounds and eat enough.

11- Be helpful

via Dailymail

You know who it’s hard to talk shit about? Someone who’s being helpful.

12- Carve out ‘you time’

Step outside and get some air, before – not after – you freak out and totally lose your shit. Take care of yourself.

13- Don’t be an asshole

This one’s important. Make sure you’re not the problem.

14- Appreciate the good

As hard as it is at times, family is awesome. They’re your people so appreciate them and the time you share.

15- Just eat your feelings (worst case scenario)

“This cake doesn’t care that I’m single”

This is not ideal, but totally okay during the holidays.

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Kinda Kind

It’s become my mission to show the world that not only is kindness fun and easy to do, but also that small actions can have giant impacts. That’s why I started Kinda Kind. I’m glad that your path has led you here and I’m glad we’re on the journey together to make kindness badass.

It’s become my mission to show the world that not only is kindness fun and easy to do, but also that small actions can have giant impacts. That’s why I started Kinda Kind. I’m glad that your path has led you here and I’m glad we’re on the journey together to make kindness badass.